Festive Menu Ideas – It’s Not Too Late!

Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat. I need to create a menu, But can’t be bothered with that…

I’m sure that’s how that old Christmas rhyme goes. Doesn’t it? Well maybe not. Christmas is coming though, there’s no two ways about it. It’s absolutely rushing towards us. You may well be organised and know exactly how your festive season will unfold. Or perhaps you are still organising a hat for the Melbourne Cup party that happened a month or so ago. In the interests of everyone’s sanity and in the spirit of good will, I’ve done your planning and made you a list.

The Lead Up
It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Organise a drinks party so you can all get together in the one place instead of meeting up in various expensive bars around town. But you didn’t count on having to do that extra interstate trip for work did you? Or the extra presents you needed to buy for the kid’s teachers? Where did that time go? These recipes will have everyone jingling all the way.

Chocolate Iced Wine – make it a few days before and serve in small shot glasses. A very grown up dessert.

The Main Event
It’s here. It’s finally here. Christmas Day! After an easy start over coffee, summer fruit and pastries, it’s time to get serious. It doesn’t have to be complicated though. Maybe it’s turkey or ham or prawns. I’ve left the centrepiece for you to decide upon but have planned all the accompaniments. Many of these can be made in the days leading up to December 25th so perhaps there is time for that 2nd cup of coffee and a slice of Lion’s Club fruitcake afterall.

What a great roundup of idea. Having successfully delegated the turkey and part of the dessert all I have to come up with is some seafood, ham and salads on the day. Plus all the table dressing and the extra bits and pieces in bowls around the house. Plus the booze. Oh – and there’s breakfast, too.
Actually, it’s not looking like such a doddle now.

Actually, our Xmas day in 2015 turned into a disaster. The paddock next to our house caught fire when a power line fell. The temp was 38C and the north wind was blowing. We had 4 aircraft bombers and 14 Country Fire Service units on our property all day. The eventually left at 4, but came back for a couple of hours at 8. No lunch for us – or them – just a very twitchy time.

Dear, dear – the perils of summer in Australia. I have been following along this year and see that it has been very wet so hopefully you won’t have similar issues but I know how quickly the landscape can become tinder dry.